Chapter 129
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: It's Over
Thud. Thud.
Heavy footsteps.
He simply let his feet carry him wherever they would.
How long had he been walking like that?
Suddenly, he lifted his head and looked around.
"Where's this?"
Gwan Ha-kyeong scanned her surroundings.
It was a familiar place.
All too familiar.
The training ground of Wa Dragon Corps Squad Five.
A place she'd spent the last four years in until she was sick of it. Even with her eyes closed, she knew exactly where everything was.
Without any destination in mind, following only his wandering steps, he'd ended up here again.
The final day at the Dragon Training Pavilion.
In the end, he'd lost.
He couldn't surpass the heaven-sent talent and had lost.
"Tch."
In the darkened, empty training ground, Gwan Ha-kyeong gritted her teeth.
Tears fell in drops.
If she didn't clench her teeth, she felt like she'd burst into sobs, so she bit down even harder.
"Hic... Hic... sob..."
But she couldn't stop the small whimpers leaking through her clenched jaws.
No one had expected anything from Gwan Ha-kyeong.
Except for one person.
She herself had placed great expectations on her own shoulders.
But today, she hadn't lived up to them.
Four years of grueling effort.
The fact that it all amounted to the Summer Combat Festival Round of 16 brought all the pent-up resentment crashing down.
How long did she cry like that?
Crunch.
At the sudden sound of footsteps, Gwan Ha-kyeong snapped her head up.
A shadow slowly approached from the darkness.
With wary caution in her voice, Gwan Ha-kyeong asked. Her hand was already on her sword hilt.
"This is inside the Dragon Training Pavilion. You're no suspicious intruder."
A calm voice.
A voice she'd heard before. Just today for the first time, but one she couldn't forget.
The protagonist of the morning commotion.
The instructor who had exposed the Hidden Dragon Corps cadets' scheme.
"Instructor?"
But she didn't know which one.
"Yes. Fierce Dragon Corps Squad Seven Instructor Ha Mu-baek."
At Ha Mu-baek's introduction, Gwan Ha-kyeong tilted her head.
Why would a Fierce Dragon Corps instructor be here?
This was the Wa Dragon Corps training ground, a place he had no reason to visit.
"What's a Fierce Dragon Corps instructor doing here?"
Was it because she'd shown such an embarrassing sight? Wariness laced Gwan Ha-kyeong's voice.
"Good work."
Ha Mu-baek said briefly.
"Pardon?"
She could only ask in return at the sudden remark. She had no idea what it meant.
"Training the Heaven-Severing Sword to that level isn't something ordinary effort can achieve. Not just anyone can do it. Regardless of today's match result, that alone deserves praise. That's why I came to say good work."
"W-What do you...?"
Gwan Ha-kyeong trailed off, stunned.
Words she'd longed to hear, not from her own supervising instructor or her sect elders, but from someone she'd just met today for the first time.
"Even in the Dorim Sect, few truly understand the essence of the Heaven-Severing Sword. They see it merely as a preparatory blade art before the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade. But the Heaven-Severing Sword is the foundation of the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade. Neglect it, and you can never master the advanced art properly."
"......"
Gwan Ha-kyeong listened silently to Ha Mu-baek's continued words.
Just who was this man?
Saying things no one from Dorim had ever said.
And he wasn't even from Dorim.
'Ah.'
A memory suddenly flashed through her mind.
The unsavory incident from earlier in the semester.
Wa Dragon Corps fourth-year supervising instructor Han Pyeong had been crushed by a Fierce Dragon Corps instructor.
At the time, Gwan Ha-kyeong had been too focused on swinging her sword in the training ground to witness it, hearing only from other cadets.
Han Pyeong was a Dorim Sect powerhouse who practiced the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade. She knew him well since they shared the same origins.
For him to be smashed using only the Three Talents Fist Method, and by a Fierce Dragon Corps instructor at that.
She hadn't quite believed it back then.
And that instructor's name was definitely...
'Ha Mu-baek.'
The man standing before her now.
"Instructor Ha Mu-baek... You're the one who beat Instructor Han Pyeong before...?"
The memory spilled from Gwan Ha-kyeong's lips.
"Hm? Han Pyeong?"
Ha Mu-baek sounded as if he didn't recall at first.
Then, as if remembering.
"Ah! That trash who was harassing the female cadets?"
Gwan Ha-kyeong had no response to Ha Mu-baek's question.
It was the truth, after all.
And she was a woman herself.
Truth be told, she hadn't known Han Pyeong was like that until the incident.
He hadn't acted that way in Dorim or Wa Dragon Corps.
The later investigation revealed he'd targeted only Fierce Dragon Corps female cadets, along with some Hidden Dragon and Wa Dragon instructors doing the same filth.
Of course, they were all rooted out and expelled after that.
Ha Mu-baek chuckled dryly.
"Mock the Heaven-Severing Sword, and you'll end up like that trash with a hollow Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade. Even if you unleashed it right now, it'd be better than his."
"W-What do you...?"
"Have more confidence in yourself. In the training you've done. Among all the Dorim martial artists I've seen, you're the first since Alliance Leader So Hwi-woong to polish the Heaven-Severing Sword to that level."
With that, Ha Mu-baek turned as if he had nothing more to say.
And slowly walked away.
The words were so shocking that Gwan Ha-kyeong could only stare blankly after him.
Comparing her to So Hwi-woong?
Was that even possible?
'Was it just meddling?'
Ha Mu-baek thought with a wry smile. He hadn't expected to meddle like this.
Not even imaginable from how he'd been when he first arrived at the Dragon Training Pavilion.
But he couldn't help but intervene for that cadet named Gwan Ha-kyeong.
Someone with basic talent who'd honed her martial arts with terrifying determination.
Talent aside, she was the first since So Hwi-woong to reach that level in the Heaven-Severing Sword.
And at a far younger age than So Hwi-woong.
Of course, the girl had only the Heaven-Severing Sword from Dorim, so she'd devoted everything to it.
Ha Mu-baek knew the secret of the Heaven-Severing Sword for a different reason.
Once, after a fierce battle while resting, So Hwi-woong had mentioned it offhand.
In his youth, blocked by the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade, he'd wandered until reviewing all Dorim sword arts and finding the key in the Heaven-Severing Sword to break through.
After that, he'd studied Dorim's arts closely and understood why So Hwi-woong said it.
The only mystery was why Dorim didn't know.
Probably lost in transmission somewhere.
But why hadn't So Hwi-woong, who rediscovered it, shared it with Dorim yet? That was the question.
Dorim was his sect and roots, after all.
'Anyway, who knows what that guy's thinking.'
The world's greatest hero, renowned for his righteousness—yet Ha Mu-baek occasionally glimpsed So Hwi-woong's sly side.
"It's over..."
In the corner of Fierce Dragon Corps Squad Seven's training ground.
Dang Jin-san muttered while sprawled on the ground, staring up at the night sky.
"Yeah."
Nak Woo-jin sat beside him.
The two eliminated in the Round of 16.
Both defeated by Namgung Ji-yu and Namgung Ji-hu, the Namgung siblings.
"They were strong. The Namgungs."
"Yeah."
Nak Woo-jin agreed to Dang Jin-san's words.
The heavy mood kept Baek Ri-pyeong, Dan Mok Un-roe, and Yeon Ha-min from approaching.
If they'd all advanced to the quarterfinals, they'd laugh together preparing for tomorrow.
But for these two, their year at the Dragon Training Pavilion ended today.
"Tsk tsk."
A tongue clicked.
Crunch crunch.
Footsteps approached.
Ha Mu-baek.
Dang Jin-san and Nak Woo-jin's gazes turned there.
"Ah, Instructor."
"You're here."
The two awkwardly rose.
"Knew you'd be moping like this."
Ha Mu-baek scowled.
They averted their eyes, pretending otherwise.
They hadn't been like this leaving the arena after defeat.
Just regret over the loss.
They'd poured everything out, so that was that.
But as time passed, frustration and injustice welled up.
"And it's good you're moping."
At Ha Mu-baek's follow-up, their heads whipped toward him.
"What do you mean?"
Dang Jin-san asked.
"If defeat doesn't frustrate you, that means you're done for."
Ha Mu-baek's answer lit a spark in their eyes.
"Nak Woo-jin."
"Yes."
"You'd sparred with Namgung Ji-hu before, so you knew his skill somewhat. Why no shield?"
"I overestimated myself."
"Even so, you were strong. You've been training less than a year. Yet you pushed Namgung Ji-hu that far. Well done. You'll be even stronger next year."
Expecting reprimand, praise came instead.
Nak Woo-jin's lips quivered, curving into a faint smile.
"Dang Jin-san."
"Yes. I got cocky and skipped the shield."
Dang Jin-san answered first, already cheekily recovered.
Ha Mu-baek chuckled.
"Yeah. You were the real shame. With a shield, you might've won. Looks like the Tang Clan's wastrel is finally gone."
Dang Jin-san's cheeks puffed in indignation at Ha Mu-baek's words.
"Everyone, good work today."
Directed at the other three standing at a distance.
With that, Ha Mu-baek left the training ground.
After he was gone.
The five gathered.
Thanks to Dang Jin-san and Nak Woo-jin regaining their spirits.
Thus assembled, the five began discussing tomorrow's quarterfinals.
Stars began twinkling one by one in the night sky.
Ha Seol-ran, having washed off her sweat early and changed, gazed at the sky from her Graceful Dragon Dormitory room window.
Her eyes were on the heavens, but her mind was a whirlwind.
Reviewing today's match.
Only now did she see so many regrettable moments.
Especially thinking of Dang Jin-san's performance in the Round of 16 after her own defeat.
'Why didn't I...?'
Regrets and what-ifs flooded her.
During the ongoing matches after her loss, she hadn't felt it.
But with the festival's Round of 16 done and back at the dormitory, it hit different.
Her own match replayed, along with the Fierce Dragon Squad Seven cadets' fierce fights.
Shame and regret.
Freezing up over a mere match.
"What're you doing?"
A familiar voice suddenly in her ear.
As if spoken right beside her, Ha Seol-ran looked around.
No one there.
"Down here."
The voice rang vividly again. Big Brother.
Looking down, she saw a shadow in the Graceful Dragon Dormitory front yard waving at her.
Dark as it was, she clearly recognized her big brother. Amazing.
Ha Seol-ran vaulted the windowsill and leaped out.
Her lightness skill from Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest shone now.
"How'd you get here?"
Her face full of delight.
Graceful Dragon Dormitory was for female cadets only.
Men were strictly forbidden, so Ha Mu-baek stood where no man should.
"Like there's anywhere I can't go. Walk with me."
Ha Mu-baek led her out of the dormitory grounds toward the Dragon Training Pavilion outskirts.
"Disappointed?"
Ha Seol-ran nodded faintly at Ha Mu-baek's question.
"Seol-ran, you've been training just over three months. And you had Blocked Meridians Disorder too."
"Yes."
"But Namgung Ji-yu was raised as a martial artist from birth. Today, you bridged that gap in one leap."
"But if I'd stayed just a bit calmer..."
"Everyone struggles their first time. It was your debut real combat, so it's natural."
"Still..."
Ha Seol-ran tried to speak, but Ha Mu-baek was faster.
"I was the same."
"Huh?"
His unexpected words widened her eyes.
"My first real fight, my mind went blank, limbs shaking. When I came to, I didn't even know how I'd survived."
"Ah..."
Her big brother, who'd shown such unbelievable prowess.
Even he had been like that once.
"You did better than your skill level today. So think ahead to next time."
"Yes!"
Vitality returned to Ha Seol-ran's voice.
Ha Mu-baek smiled gently and escorted her back to Graceful Dragon Dormitory.
Cold air filled the sky.
A clear, high sky as crisp as the biting atmosphere.
Perfect weather.
"Man, great day for a championship."
Fierce Dragon Squad Seven cadets stared blankly at Dang Jin-san.
He'd been eliminated yesterday.
"Not me—one of you three. You'll do it, right?"
He grinned at their looks.
Baek Ri-pyeong, Dan Mok Un-roe, Yeon Ha-min.
The three exchanged glances, then smiled and nodded.
Summer Combat Festival.
The quarterfinal morning dawned.